Do You Make New Years Resolutions?
So here we are, a few days into the new year, the house that little bit more full of stuff you didn’t really want and aren’t quite sure what to do with. The cupboards still over flowing with chocolates but otherwise bare as you try to work up the energy to go to the supermarket and re-stock. And the floor littered with pieces from games and bits of toys that you know will never be reunited with their lost counterparts to make the complete ensemble again.
It’s the time of year we read endlessly about other peoples resolutions and think maybe we should be making some of our own. Maybe.
Or maybe not.
Because resolutions seem to have become an excuse not to achieve things haven’t they? Everybody knows that everybody breaks their resolutions, so making the promise to lose weight, go to the gym daily or learn another language as a resolution is pretty much a get out clause of ever having to do it, isn’t it? You can pretend the intention was there, you told everyone it was your resolution for the year, so it must have been, right? but you never actually have to bother yourself by doing it.
A list of New Years Resolutions is pretty much just a list of things we would have done if we were better people. If we were stronger, had more sticking power, more determination, more time.
So I’m not making a new years resolution this year, I refuse to give myself the excuse not to achieve the things I want to. I won’t add them to the bottom of that ever growing list of good intentions, of things that will never get done.
Instead I’m holding on to them tightly, so tight I’m not even going to share them with you because I’m worried that once spoken, once written down, the power of them will dissipate, start to drain away.
These are not resolutions, these are things I will achieve.
What about you, do make New Years resolutions? And if you do, do you keep them?
I'm Heather, an ex expat, now back in blighty and living in Lancashire. Which is just like Lapland only less snowy...and stuff.
“The cupboards still over flowing with chocolates…” What is wrong with you, lady? Have you been ill?
As for resolutions… nope, I don’t make them. Like you I have a few goals in my head that I’d like to achieve this year but they are mine alone to know. You’re right. Talking about things does waste the energy needed to achieve them. Those who talk about it don’t do, as the old saying goes…
The kids got so much chocolate for Christmas it was obscene. Seriously, had I eaten half of what is left in our cupboards my news year resolution would have had to be to lose enough weight to not have to be air lifted out of the house!
Good luck with those plans of yours. x
I don’t make them either. Wasted energy for me. I either do or I don’t do and I don’t look back. Less regret that way
Like Steve, I have a few goals but they’re personal and I hope to share them after they become reality… If.
Exactly! WHEN they become a reality though I expect you to tell us all about them xx
I never make resolutions because I suck at commitments like that.
In fact I’m lucky if I finish anything that I start, like commenting on blogs for example, I may get half way through a thought and…ummm….
There is that aspect to it as well I guess. If you tell someone that you’re going to do it and then don’t…
I’m running out of decent chocolate here: had to go to Tesco to buy my first creme egg of the year.
I don’t make resolutions: am practically perfect anyway
Creme eggs? Seriously, they’re in the shops already? Christ in a crisp packet, they don’t hang about do they?
my resolution is not to bite my nails, you’re right about broken resolutions because after 50 years it still hasn’t worked but I’m determined this year. I do live a nail bitingly stressy life at times, that’s my excuse. We have a whole tin of quality street left and it’s our secret. Happy New Year
I don’t really make new year’s resolutions but I did set myself 101 challenges in 1001 days back in March (some random not typically auspicious date) and I’m motivated to work through them, especially as I got a few easy one’s ticked off pretty much immediately. It means i want to tick of the harder ones to complete it- but then I hate to see a list unfinished so I knew it would work for me. Good luck with your secret personal goals
HNY Heather
I don’t make resolutions as such, just mention things I’d like to achieve or work towards over the course of the year. It helps me to have goals to work towards. I recognise that some won’t be achieved but if I make one step closer to that goal, I’m happy with the progress. If I don’t achieve them I look into why, maybe they weren’t so important after all? I find my mind changes as I go through the year and come across different people, ideas and challenges.
Life’s a constant evolution. I never thought for a minute I’d take to blogging as I did for example. That has changed my life massively and become much more important than I ever anticipated
I’m not a big fan of resolutions so instead have set myself a couple of aims for the year mainly to spend more time with my loved ones and moan less!!! Tesco (not happy with just selling Creme Eggs) already have their Valentines/Easter selection in…..Grrrr!!!
Can’t be fagged to think about resolutions. I know what I should be doing, like getting off my backside and moving it in a spirited way, so I don’t need yet another mental kick up it, more a physical shove.
Anyway, resolutions are boring. It’s like Lent. I never give anything for Lent either as I’ve already given everything up I intend to bar alcohol and there’s no way that’s going.
Must and should are two words that grate at this time of year what with family commitments and doing things you don’t want to do. The last straw is imposing yet more crap on yourself!
Happy New Year!
I try to make abstract resolutions – like “be more grateful”, and think about it often, because that’s the point.
I never make New Year’s Resolutions…even if they’re worthy that’s just too much pressure. For me change happens on a whim…i can’t fight my moods and no resolution has EVER overcome them so why bother. I’m too old for that shit!
I haven’t made any New Years resolutions for ages now. I used to try and make a resolution to ‘do’ something rather than stop doing something, but I gave up kidding myself.
I’m too lazy and apathetic I guess to even play the game anymore.
So true. I just have one aspiration: to be happy, and a few targets. Nothing more. The only thing I plan to do is write down ‘be happy ‘ on little post- its and stick them where I can see them.
Happy new year. I’ve really enjoyed your blog over the last few months
Was wondering where you disappeared to. Was just about to send you an email when your post appeared.
Seems we are thinking similarly-i wrote something similar about resolutions.
Have a great year.
I am praying i follow thru with mine I have created a blog surrounded around it!
http://littlefatgirl.blogspot.com/
I have faith
I’d love for you to link up to bigwords NYE linky thingamagigy!
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